This guide was developed under the auspices
of the U.S. Department of Education's Office
of Innovation and Improvement. Sharon Horn
was project director.

An external advisory group provided feedback
to refine the scope of the study underlying this
guide, define the selection criteria for case study
sites, and clarify the text. Members (and their
affiliations at the time of the advisory meeting)
included Cathy Cheely, e-learning coordinator,
Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School;
John Flores, chief executive officer, United States
Distance Learning Association; Patrick Gould,
associate researcher, Center on Education and
Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Don
Lake, director, Center for Distance and Online
Learning, Los Angeles County Office of Education;
Linda Morrell, director of instructional technology,
Cobb County (Georgia) School District;
Joyce Pittman, associate professor, instructional
technology, University of Cincinnati Teachers
College; and Kurt Steinhaus, board president of
the International Society for Technology in Education
and deputy secretary of education, new
Mexico Public Education Department.

The six online course providers and their partnering
districts and schools that participated
in the development of this guide and the case
studies on which it is based were generous with
both their time and attention. We would like to
thank those who were instrumental in coordinating
and participating in the site visits that informed
this work, including district and school
staff, parents, and students who agreed to be
interviewed for this project.